Many scientists use the climate year, which runs from December of the preceding year to November of the current year, to evaluate long-term climate trends. The combined land-ocean temperature readings NASA's Goddard Institute posted Friday indicate that 2010 has surpassed what it identified as the previous warmest climate year, 2005.

The findings are significant, according to experts, and barring some temperature anomaly in December, should place 2010 as the warmest year on record overall. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has identified 1998 as the warmest year on record with 2005 close behind, will release its climate year readings next week.

Rafe Pomerance, a senior fellow at Clean Air-Cool Planet, wrote in an e-mail, "The continuing rapid warming of the planet should send everyone in Cancun home with a renewed sense of urgency whatever the final outcome of the negotiations. Not only is the temperature record indicative of rapid warming but many other indicators such as rising sea levels, the loss of Arctic sea ice and glacial retreat are pointing in the same direction".

Here at the talks, European negotiators expressed frustration that countries have not agreed to make sufficient emission cuts over the next few decades that would prevent global temperatures from rising 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above pre-industrial levels by 2100. According to several analyses, the current pledges nations have made under the U.N. process would make up between half and three-quarters of what's needed to meet that global temperature target.

Connie Hedegaard, the European Commissioner for Climate Action, said she is not surprised at the disconnect between the science and policymakers' level of ambition, but it remains a problem.

"Of course, all of this is incredibly difficult. It is, in the end, about how we build the society of the future. We are in the middle of a paradigm shift," Hedegaard said, adding that negotiators often focus on "narrow issues" rather than the broader goal of keeping global warming in check.

Well lets see these head in the sand Republicans thugs try and bury this report...this summer was excruciating hot in Virginia - basically thanks to a handfull of right wing tea bagging republican goods in Congress - our planet is going to boil...Thanks to all you jerkks who voted republican in 2012 - you've essentially destroyed the one planet we have.

I find it interesting that as usual there was no reporting on the CFACT's Climate Depot, released a 321-page report listing 1,000 + scientists who dissent over man-made global warming which he termed a “consensus buster.” “Science is too important for our society to be misused in the way it has been done within the Climate Science Community,” Swedish climatologist Dr. Hans Jelbring is quoted as saying in Morano's report. “I am ashamed of what climate science has become today. The science community is relying on an inadequate model to blame CO2 and innocent citizens for global warming in order to generate funding and to gain attention.
And of course, not a mention of the fact that the "Gore Effect" is well in play, as Cancun suffers from the coldest December in a century with lows in the low 50's.
And not a mention of Gore's admission last month that his vote for ethanol subsidies had nothing to do with science, it was all due to his running for President and getting votes in Iowa.

@ wapocensorsbite
I thought that was because when the great Noah flood receded it left marine fossils and stuff on top of mountains. I'm pretty sure that was it. You should know, the old testament serves as your school textbook, doesn't it?

Actually, NASA's records have had to be "corrected" several times after making similar claims about record setting temps. they have always been revised downward. Real scientists have used ice core readings over many centuries that show the planet was warmer during several epochs ( including the one where Norsemen colonized Greenland when it was green a thousand years ago and then froze to death when the earth cooled once more) than the worst-case scenarios imagined by the warmist alarmists.

Just because it still knows today doesn't mean that the planet isn't warming increasingly. Things happen in cycles on this planet, depending on where you live. Anyway, we're talking about the average temperature around the entire world (which has many different climates, some that never have snow or cold). After a number of years, there won't be any Arctic ice or Antarctica...and more and more extreme weather events.

It's not only about the planet and the animals - it's about the ramifications this has on our lives. Food supply, water supply, land issues, pollution, weather. If you don't believe in global warming or you think others shouldn't, you're only hiding the fact that you're a greedy individual who doesn't think anything should be done.. but I bet you want to breathe clean air, drink unpolluted water, and eat food that isn't going to kill you or cost you an arm and a leg.

Instead of denying it exists or that man has nothing to do with it, you should think about why you're denying these things and cut the bull. Just like Republicans think unpaid-for tax cuts for the rich are good for the economy, in the long run, it's detrimental to the state of our country.

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.